Multiple degrees of freedom connectors and adapters
Connector devices that provide multiple degrees of freedom of motion between a first connector head and additional connector heads and/or electronic devices are described. The multiple degrees of freedom of motion permit motion in one or both of two planes and, perhaps, rotation about an axis in a controlled and fixed manner. Such connector devices allow peripheral devices to be folded or rotated in close proximity to a hosting device. Connector devices that incorporate circuitry for implementing distribution/hub functionality are also described.
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This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/619,535, which is incorporated by reference, to which priority is claimed, and which claims the benefit of a U.S. provisional patent applications entitled “Electrical or Optical Connector Adapter with Rotational Mechanisms,” Ser. Nos. 60/400,792 (filed on 2 Aug. 2002), 60/416,569 (filed on 7 Oct. 2002) and 60/438,467 (filed on 7 Jan. 2003) by the same inventor.
BACKGROUNDThe invention relates generally to connectors and adapters and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to connectors and adapters that provide multiple degrees of freedom of motion for coupling electronic components.
A large variety of electronic (including electro-optical) devices are currently available on the market. Many of these devices need to be interconnected to other devices to be more useful or desirable. For example, a user may want to connect their notebook computer to an external memory device, a digital camera, MP3 player or a modem. To interconnect these various devices users have traditionally needed a variety of different connectors and/or adaptors. When in use, these connectors and adaptors extend from the hosting device making it difficult or impossible to place the hosting device and/or the connected peripheral device in a desired position. In addition, connectors that extend from a housing (host or peripheral) are prone to breakage, bad connections or damage to the connected device or the hosting device itself. In a desktop environment, these problems may be tolerable in so far as the host device and the connector/adapter may be placed in a location out of harms way. In a mobile environment however (e.g., a notebook or handheld computer, a cellular telephone and a digital camcorder), the use of connectors and/or adaptors that extend from the base unit's body are particularly troublesome.
These problems are particularly problematic for the newest types of small devices designed to be directly interfaced to host devices. Illustrative small devices include, but are not limited to, card readers, BlueTooth, networking and biometric devices. Many of these small devices have connector heads attached directly to the bodies of the devices. In some cases the small device cannot be successfully interfaced to a host device due to the physical conflicts between the housing of the host device and the small device. For example, the orientation of a connector head on a notebook computer may not match the orientation of the connector head on a memory card device. Another common problem is that the host device connector head/socket is oriented in such a manner that the peripheral device (e.g., a card reader) cannot be plugged into the host without creating physically conflicts with other devices or infrastructure (e.g., a wall or seat).
Some prior art devices provide connectors that allow one degree of freedom of motion—motion that may partially reduce the aforementioned problems. Some prior art devices, for example, are able to bend, i.e. rotate along an axis that is perpendicular to the direction that one connector head is inserted into another connector head to make a connection. These connectors allow a hosting device and a peripheral device to be joined in places or situations where fixed connectors would not. Other prior art connectors may allow peripheral device connector head to rotate or spin such that a host and a peripheral device may be connected even if the connector head on the peripheral device has a different horizontal or vertical orientation from that of the host device. All these devices, however, continue to extend the coupled device in a predetermined orientation away from the hosting device.
Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a mechanism that would allow one or more devices to be coupled through an arbitrary and fixable orientation and which allow devices to be coupled in a low-profile manner. Such a mechanism would overcome physical connection constraints present in current connectors and adaptors.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a connector having multiple degrees of freedom of movement. The connector comprises a first connector head having an axis, a second connector head and a connection mechanism coupling the first and second connector heads, wherein the connection mechanism is adapted to limit the motion of the second connector head (relative to the first connector head) in a first plane substantially coincident with the axis and in a second plane substantially orthogonal to the axis. The connector may further comprise additional connector heads, an electronic device and/or an additional connection mechanism to permit rotation of the second connector head and/or electronic device about the axis. In some embodiments the additional connector heads or electronic device may move independent of one another while, in other embodiments, they move coincident with one another. In still other embodiments, connectors in accordance with the invention may be incorporated within electronic devices. In yet other embodiments, the second connector head may be at a fixed angle relative to the first connector head.
Connectors in accordance with some embodiments of the invention provide connector heads that may be fixedly set in a user-preferred position—a position that changes only on affirmative action by a user. Connectors in accordance with the invention may implement any desired connector head. Illustrative connector head types include, but are not limited to, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire, video monitor and serial connector heads. Further, connectors in accordance with the invention may employ different connector head styles (e.g., USB and serial connector heads) within a single connector apparatus. Connectors in accordance with the invention may be embodied in electrical or electro-optical connectors and may further be incorporated within devices such as, for example, memory devices (e.g., flash memory disk, magnetic disk drive and optical disk drive peripherals), card readers (e.g., secure data and multimedia cards) and communication devices (e.g., wireless modem and standard modem peripherals).
The invention relates generally to connectors and adaptors and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to mechanisms that provide two or more degrees of freedom for coupling two or more devices in an arbitrary and fixable orientation. The following embodiments of the invention, described in terms of Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors and adaptors, are illustrative only and are not to be considered limiting in any respect. To facilitate the following discussion, the standard right-hand coordinate system shown in
In one embodiment of the invention, two-degree of freedom USB connector 200 allows motion in both the Y-Z plane (side view,
In another embodiment, one or both of mechanisms 215 and 220 provide a fixedly adjustable positioning mechanism. That is, either or both of mechanisms 215 and 220 may be designed to retain a user-specified position and to hold that position until affirmatively altered. In these embodiments, an applied external force is required to place mechanisms 215 and 220 in a first position, wherein the weight of the connector heads and/or stand-alone device would not generally be sufficient to rotate either mechanism 215 or 220. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize there are many means to implement this feature. For example, a hinge for rotation and friction for holding a connector in place is one means. Another means may use two mating planar surfaces to keep the rotation motion along a predetermined track or path and also increase the surface area for more stationary friction when a desirable position is reached. A third means could use a ball and socket universal joint similar in function to those used in conventional shower-heads.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, connector head 210 may be fixedly coupled or integral to a functional unit such as, for example, an electronic device. Illustrative electronic devices include, but are not limited to, card readers, memory devices and wireless network devices.
In yet another embodiment (see
In still another embodiment, mechanism 510 may be incorporated into connector 200 to provide three degrees of motion. As shown in
In one embodiment of the invention, the fixed device capability of
Referring to
Additional embodiments of a connector/adapter in accordance with the invention are shown in
Referring to
Various changes in the disclosed embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the claims. For instance, while the embodiments of
Claims
1. An electronic connector mechanism, comprising:
- an intermediate member having a first end defining a first connection axis and having a second end defining a second connection axis, the first and second connection axes being substantially orthogonal;
- a first head rotatably connected to the first end of the intermediate member and limited to rotation in a first plane on the first connection axis;
- a first electronic connector on the first head connectable to a first electronic device;
- a second head rotatably connected to the second end of the intermediate member and limited to rotation in a second plane on the second connection axis; and
- a second electronic connector on the second head connectable to a second electronic device, the second electronic connector in electrical communication with the first electronic connector through the intermediate member,
- wherein at least one of the first and second heads is rotatable on its connection axis more than 90-degrees relative to the intermediate member.
2. The mechanism of claim 1,
- wherein the first electronic connector comprises a first male connector, and
- wherein the second electronic connector comprises a second male connector.
3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end comprises a joint connection.
4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end is adapted to retain the first head in a specified position in the first plane.
5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the intermediate member comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together and rotatable relative to one another about a third connection axis, the third connection axis being substantially orthogonal to the first and second connection axes.
6. The mechanism of claim 1,
- wherein the first electronic connector comprises a male connector, and
- wherein the second electronic connector comprises a female connector.
7. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic connectors comprise a same style of electronic connector.
8. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic connectors comprise different styles of electronic connectors.
9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first head comprises a cable extending from the first head to the first electronic connector on a distal end of the cable.
10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second heads is rotatable on its connection axis more than 90-degrees relative to the intermediate member.
11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first electronic connector is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, memory, and cable connectors.
12. The mechanism of claim 11, wherein the second electronic connector is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, memory, and cable connectors.
13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end comprises a first hinged connection.
14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the rotatable connection of the second head to the second end comprises a second hinged connection.
15. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a third head connected to the second end and rotatable about the second connection axis.
16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein the second and third heads are independently rotatable about the second connection axis in substantially parallel planes.
17. The mechanism of 15, wherein the third head comprises a third electronic connector in electrical communication with the first electronic connector and connectable to a third electronic device.
18. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein the third connector is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, memory, and cable connectors.
19. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein the third head comprises an electronic device in electrical communication with the first connector, the electronic device selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, and memory devices.
20. The mechanism of claim 1,
- wherein the first head has a first electronic connector; and
- wherein the second head has a first electronic device in electrical communication with the first electronic device connector.
21. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein the first electronic connector is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, memory, and cable connectors, and wherein the first electronic device is selected from the group consisting of Universal Serial Bus, FireWire, BlueTooth, video, RS232, and memory devices.
22. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end comprises a joint connection.
23. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end is adapted to retain the first head in a specified position in the first plane.
24. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein intermediate member comprises a first portion and a second portion connected together and rotatable relative to one another about a third connection axis, the third connection axis being substantially orthogonal to the first and second connection axes.
25. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end comprises a first hinged connection.
26. The mechanism of claim 25, wherein the rotatable connection of the second head to the second end comprises a second hinged connection.
27. The mechanism of claim 20, further comprising a third head connected to the second end and rotatable about the second connection axis, the third head having a second electronic connector in electrical communication with the first electronic connector.
28. The mechanism of claim 27, wherein the second head and the third head are independently rotatable about the second connection axis in substantially parallel planes.
29. The mechanism of claim 20, further comprising a third head connected to the second end and rotatable about the second connection axis, the third head having a second electronic device in electrical communication with the first electronic device connector.
30. The mechanism of claim 29, wherein the second head and the third head are independently rotatable about the second connection axis in substantially parallel planes.
31. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end of the intermediate member comprises a plurality of first detents defining a plurality of first fixed positions in which the first head rotates relative to the intermediate member.
32. The mechanism of claim 31, wherein the rotatable connection of the second head to the second end of the intermediate member comprises a plurality of second detents defining a plurality of second fixed positions in which the first head rotates relative to the intermediate member.
33. An electronic connector mechanism, comprising:
- an intermediate member having a first end defining a first connection axis and having a second end defining a second connection axis, the first and second connection axes being substantially orthogonal;
- a first head rotatably connected to the first end of the intermediate member and limited to rotation in a first plane on the first connection axis;
- a first electronic connector on the first head connectable to a first electronic device;
- a second head rotatably connected to the second end of the intermediate member and limited to rotation in a second plane on the second connection axis;
- a cable having a proximal end attached to the second head and having a distal end extending from the second head; and
- a second electronic connector attached to the distal end of the cable, the second electronic connector connectable to a second electronic device and in electrical communication with the first electronic connector through the cable and the intermediate member.
34. The mechanism of claim 33,
- wherein the first electronic connector comprises a male connector, and
- wherein the second electronic connector comprises a female connector.
35. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein the first and second electronic connectors comprise a same style of electronic connector.
36. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein the first and second electronic connectors comprise different styles of electronic connectors.
37. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein at least one of the first and second heads is rotatable on its connection axis more than 90-degrees relative to the intermediate member.
38. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein each of the first and second heads is rotatable on its connection axis more than 90-degrees relative to the intermediate member.
39. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein the rotatable connection of the first head to the first end of the intermediate member comprises a plurality of first detents defining a plurality of first fixed positions in which the first head rotates relative to the intermediate member.
40. The mechanism of claim 39, wherein the rotatable connection of the second head to the second end of the intermediate member comprises a plurality of second detents defining a plurality of second fixed positions in which the first head rotates relative to the intermediate member.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 13, 2007
Date of Patent: Feb 24, 2009
Patent Publication Number: 20070232086
Assignee: Ideative Product Ventures, Inc. (Carrollton, TX)
Inventor: Tavis D. Schriefer (Carrollton, TX)
Primary Examiner: Edwin A. Leon
Attorney: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri LLP
Application Number: 11/762,242
International Classification: H01R 39/00 (20060101);